Stand for device

ABSTRACT

Provided is a stand for a device that is capable of storing, in a stable state, a plurality of arms that are rotatably coupled. The stand for a device includes a supporter including a first fulcrum, a first arm that is coupled to the supporter so as to be rotatable around the first fulcrum and that includes a second fulcrum on one end, and a second arm that includes a first end and a device-side second end, the first end being coupled to the first arm so as to be rotatable around the second fulcrum. In a case where the first arm and the second arm are positioned at stored positions, the second fulcrum is positioned below the first fulcrum and, also, the second arm is tilted with respect to the vertical direction toward the first arm side.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No.2021-139592, filed on Aug. 30, 2021, the entire disclosure of which isincorporated by reference herein.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to a stand for a device.

BACKGROUND

Stands for supporting cameras as devices are known in the related art.An example of such a stand is disclosed in Unexamined Japanese PatentApplication No. 2017-37519. With the stand described in PatentLiterature 1, the camera is held in a state in which the optical axis ofthe lens is perpendicular to a floor surface in order to image the floorsurface of a building.

SUMMARY

A stand for a device according to the present disclosure includes asupporter that includes a first fulcrum; a first arm that is coupled tothe supporter so as to be rotatable around the first fulcrum, and thatincludes a second fulcrum on one end; and a second arm that includes afirst end and a device-side second end, the first end being coupled tothe first arm so as to be rotatable around the second fulcrum, whereinin a case where the first arm and the second arm are positioned atstored positions, the second fulcrum is positioned below the firstfulcrum and, also, the second arm is tilted with respect to a verticaldirection toward a side of the first arm, and gravity acting on thesecond arm acts on the second arm so as to rotate the second arm towardthe side of the first arm.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of this application can be obtained in acase where the following detailed description is considered inconjunction with the following drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an overview drawing illustrating a situation in which a camerais attached to a camera stand according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure, and is performing imaging;

FIG. 2 is an overview drawing of the camera stand, viewed from arrow IIin FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3A is a perspective view illustrating the camera illustrated inFIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3B is a back view of the camera, viewed from arrow b in FIG. 3A;

FIG. 4 is a drawing focused on a tip of the camera stand illustrated inFIG. 1 , and is an enlarged view of section IV in FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 5 is a drawing focused on the tip of the camera stand illustratedin FIG. 1 , and is drawing viewed from arrow V in FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the camera stand, taken along lineVI-VI in FIG. 4 ;

FIG. 7 is an overview drawing illustrating a process of storing a firstarm and a second arm of the camera stand illustrated in FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 8 is an overview drawing illustrating a state in which the firstarm and the second arm of the camera stand illustrated in FIG. 1 arestored;

FIG. 9A is an overview drawing of a locking mechanism applicable to thecamera stand illustrated in FIG. 1 , and illustrates a case in which thelocking mechanism is in a released state; and

FIG. 9B is an overview drawing of the locking mechanism applicable tothe camera stand illustrated in FIG. 1 , and illustrates a case in whichthe locking mechanism is in a locked state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, a stand for a device according to embodiments of thepresent disclosure is described in while referencing the drawings. Notethat, in the present embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 1 , a stand(hereinafter referred to as “camera stand 100”) for a camera 1 as thedevice is described. Here, the camera stand 100 supports the camera 1.

As illustrated in FIG. 1 , the camera stand 100 includes a supporter 110placed on a floor 50 of a building for example, a first arm 120rotatably attached to the supporter 110, a second arm 130 rotatablyattached to one end of the first arm 120, and an attachment stand 140rotatably attached to one end of the second arm 130. The supporter 110may be placed on the ground, a corridor, a table, or a chair. Note that,as illustrated in FIG. 1 , the camera 1 is attached to the attachmentstand 140 and, as a result, imaging can be carried out while suppressingshaking during imaging. In one example, the camera 1 is implemented as adigital camera that images a subject. Note that, in the description ofthe camera stand 100, a right-hand coordinate system is appropriatelyreferenced in which, as illustrated in FIG. 1 , the direction in whichthe horizontally disposed first arm 120 extends is defined as the+X-axis direction, the vertical direction is defined as the Z-axisdirection, upward in the Z-axis direction is defined as the +Z-axisdirection, and the Y-axis direction is defined as being orthogonal tothe X-axis direction and the Z-axis direction.

The supporter 110 includes a base 111 and an upright portion 114. Thebase 111 includes, for example, five extending portions 112 extendingradially at equal angle spacings from the center of the base 111, and acaster 113 attached to each of the five extending portions 112. Theupright portion 114 rises in the +Z-axis direction from the center ofthe base 111.

The casters 113 are respectively provided on the tips of the fiveextending portions 112, and are disposed spaced apart from each other.Due to this configuration, the camera stand 100 can be stably moved onthe floor 50 by the five casters 113. A stopper that stops the movementof the wheel is provided on at least a portion of the casters 113.

As illustrated in FIG. 2 , the upright portion 114 includes a supportpillar 115 rising from the center of the base 111, and a frame member116 connected to an upper end of the support pillar 115.

The frame member 116 includes a frame that is formed in a rectangularshape from a metal pipe. Each corner of the frame is formed in a curvedshape. The frame member 116 includes a pair of long sides 116 a, 116 athat extend in the Z-axis direction and are arranged parallel to theY-axis direction, and a pair of short sides 116 b, 116 b that extend inthe Y-axis direction and are arranged parallel to the Z-axis direction.Additionally, two projections 116 c that extend inward horizontally froman inner edge are formed at positions of the same height on each longside 116 a of the pair of long sides 116 a, 116 a. A first fulcrum 151(FIG. 1 ) that rotatably supports an intermediate section of the firstarm 120 is provided on the two projections 116 c. Additionally, theupper end of the support pillar 115 is connected to a center portion ofthe short side 116 b provided on the −Z-axis direction side of the pairof short sides 116 b, 116 b. Due to this configuration, the frame member116 is supported above the support pillar 115 that is provided uprightin the vertical direction. Additionally, a grip 117 is wound on theshort side 116 b on the upper side and portions of the pair of longsides 116 a, 116 a above the projections 116 c. In one example, the grip117 is made from rubber, and includes a plurality of grooves on thesurface so as to facilitate gripping in a case of operating the camerastand.

The first arm 120 includes an arm main body 121 that is rotatablysupported around the first fulcrum 151 by the supporter 110, anauxiliary arm 123 on one end of the arm main body 121, the auxiliary arm123 having another end that is rotatably supported around a fourthfulcrum 152, and a counterweight 122 that is provided on another end ofthe arm main body 121.

The arm main body 121 is disposed in a state passing through theinterior of the frame member 116. The arm main body 121 is rotatablysupported by the first fulcrum 151 provided on the projections 116 c(FIG. 2 ), at a position closer to the other end, on which thecounterweight 122 is provided, than to the exact center in thelongitudinal direction of the arm main body 121. Due to thisconfiguration, the arm main body 121 is rotatable in a directionindicated by arrow R1, that is, in a circumferential direction around animaginary axis extending in the Y-axis direction from the first fulcrum151. As illustrated in FIG. 1 , the arm main body 121 is rotatable, froma state in which the arm main body 121 is extended horizontally,clockwise (in the drawing) to a hereinafter described stored position atwhich a magnet member 181 and a magnet receiver 182 contact, andcounterclockwise (in the drawing) by a first predetermined angle (forexample, 28°). Further counterclockwise rotation is restricted by anon-illustrated rotation restricting mechanism. In one example, therotation restricting mechanism includes a slit in which the arm mainbody 121 is inserted, and the rotation of the arm main body 121 isrestricted by this slit contacting the rotating arm main body 121.

In one example, the counterweight 122 is formed by stacking a pluralityof disks made from stainless steel. The counterweight 122 is disposed onthe −X-axis direction side of the first fulcrum 151. The counterweight122 has a weight corresponding to the weights of the camera 1, thesecond arm 130, and the like disposed on the +X-axis direction side ofthe first fulcrum 151, and to a moment acting on the first arm 120 dueto the weight of the first arm 120 itself.

As described later, the auxiliary arm 123 functions so as to dispose thefirst arm 120 and the second arm 130, that are at the stored positions,substantially parallel to each other, with a spacing between the firstarm 120 and the second arm 130. Thus, the auxiliary arm 123 is anauxiliary member included in the first arm 120.

The second arm 130 is rotatably supported by one end of the auxiliaryarm 123 at another end (first end) of the second arm 130. The second arm130 is shorter than the first arm 120. The second arm 130 is rotatablysupported by the second fulcrum 153 in a direction indicated by arrowR2, that is, in a circumferential direction around an imaginary axisextending in the Y-axis direction from the second fulcrum 153. Asillustrated in FIG. 1 , the second arm 130 is rotatable, from a stateextended upward, clockwise (in the drawing) by a second predeterminedangle (for example 25°), and counterclockwise (in the drawing) by athird predetermined angle (for example 25°). Further rotation isrestricted by a non-illustrated rotation restricting mechanism.

Thus, the first arm 120 and the second arm 130 are disposed on the XZplane in FIG. 1 that extends in the vertical direction. Additionally,the first arm 120 and the second arm 130 respectively rotate around animaginary axis extending in the Y-axis direction orthogonal to the XZplane and, as such, are mutually positioned on the XZ plane in FIG. 1 ,which is substantially the same plane, even after rotation.

The attachment stand 140 is attached, to one end (second end) of thesecond arm 130, so as to be rotatable around a third fulcrum 154, and isrotatable in a direction indicated by arrow R3 in FIG. 1 , that is, in acircumferential direction around an imaginary axis extending in theY-axis direction from the third fulcrum 154. As illustrated in FIG. 5 ,the attachment stand 140 includes a coupler 141 that is rotatablyattached to the third fulcrum 154, a ball joint 142 that is screwed tothe coupler 141, and an attacher 160 attached to the ball joint 142.

The coupler 141 includes an insert 141 a that is inserted into two slits130 a formed in the end of the second arm 130, and this insert 141 a isrotatably coupled to the second arm 130. The two slits 130 a are formedin arcs that correspond to the shape of the end of the second arm 130.In a case where the attachment stand 140 rotates around the thirdfulcrum 154, the coupler 141 eventually contacts the edge of the slits130 a, and further rotation of the attachment stand 140 is restricted.Thus, the slits 130 a formed in the second arm 130 restrict the amountof rotation around the third fulcrum 154 of the attachment stand 140.

As illustrated in FIG. 6 , the ball joint 142 includes a ball cradle144, and a ball member 145 fitted into the ball cradle 144.

A recess 144 a that is open upward is formed in the ball cradle 144. Therecess 144 a has a shape into which a ball member main body 145 a, whichis spherical, fits. A curved-back portion 144 c where an inner wall ofthe recess 144 a is curved back is formed in the ball cradle 144, andthis curved-back portion 144 c contacts the ball member main body 145 afrom above to prevent the ball member main body 145 a from falling outof the recess 144 a. The size of the recess 144 a changes by tighteningand loosening a knob screw 148 illustrated in FIG. 4 that is provided ona side surface of the ball joint 142. Due to this configuration, theball member 145 can be arranged in a fixed state in the recess 144 a andin a movable state in the recess 144 a. Additionally, a male screw 144 bprotruding downward is formed on a lower surface of the ball cradle 144.The male screw 144 b is screwed into a screw hole (not illustrated inthe drawings) of the coupler 141 illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 . Thus,the ball joint 142 is connected to the second arm 130.

As illustrated in FIG. 6 , the ball member 145 includes the sphericalball member main body 145 a and a support pillar 145 b projecting fromthe ball member main body 145 a. The support pillar 145 b is fixed to alower surface of the attacher 160. As such, in response to the ballmember 145 moving within the recess 144 a, the attacher 160 moves inaccordance with the movement of the support pillar 145 b. For example,as illustrated in FIG. 6 , the support pillar 145 b that is in the stateextended upward can be tilted in all directions from the upward extendedattitude due to the ball member 145 being operated and, also, can berotated 360° with the direction the support pillar 145 b extends as anaxis.

As illustrated in FIG. 4 , the attacher 160 includes a base portion 161coupled to the ball joint 142, and a rotating portion 162 rotatablyattached to the base portion 161. Note that the camera 1 is attached tothe attacher 160 in a case where the rotating portion 162 is in a firstrotation state (hereinafter referred to as an “unrotated state”) inwhich the rotating portion 162 is not rotated with respect to the baseportion 161, as illustrated in FIG. 4 . At this time, the camera 1 isattached such that the right direction of the camera 1 matches thedirection in which a right grip 168 is disposed and such that the leftdirection of the camera 1 matches the direction in which a left grip 167is disposed. As illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B, in front of the camera 1is defined as a direction in which a cover plate 7, which allowsreflected light from an imaging subject to enter into the camera 1, isprovided, and a direction opposite the front is defined as behind thecamera. The up, down, left, and right directions, in a case of viewingthe camera 1 from behind, the camera 1 being disposed such that ashutter button 4 faces upward, are defined as-is as the up, down, left,and right directions of the camera 1. In the description of the detailsof the attacher 160, the terms “front-back direction”, “up-downdirection”, and “left-right direction” of the camera 1 in a case ofattaching to the attacher 160 are appropriately used.

As illustrated in FIG. 4 , the base portion 161 includes a rectangularparallelepiped left block 163 disposed on the left side, a rectangularparallelepiped right block 165 disposed on the right side, and arotation supporter 164 illustrated in FIG. 6 that is sandwiched betweenthe left block 163 and the right block 165, and is formed integrallywith the left and right blocks 163 and 165.

A height of the rotation supporter 164 is lower than heights of the leftblock 163 and the right block 165. As illustrated in FIG. 6 , therotating portion 162 is attached, via a hinge 173 as a rotatingcomponent, to the rotation supporter 164 that has the lower height and,due to this configuration, the rotating portion 162 is rotatablysupported by the base portion 161. As illustrated in FIG. 4 , in a casewhere the rotating portion 162 is in the unrotated state, upper surfacesof the left block 163, the rotating portion 162, and the right block 165are flush, and the respective flush surfaces function as an installationsurface for installing the camera 1.

As illustrated in FIG. 4 , the left grip 167 is provided on a left sidesurface of the base portion 161, and the right grip 168 is provided on aright side surface of the base portion 161. The left grip 167 includesan extending section 169 that projects leftward from the left sidesurface of the base portion 161 and bends at a bend 169 a to extenddiagonally downward, and a grip 170 provided on an end of the extendingsection 169. The extending section 169 is made from a metal and, in oneexample, is formed from stainless steel rod material. In one example,the grip 170 is made from rubber, and a plurality of grooves 170 a areformed on the grip 170 so as to facilitate gripping. Note that the rightgrip 168 has a left-right symmetrical configuration with the left grip167, and includes an extending section 171 similar to the extendingsection 169 and a grip 172 similar to the grip 170. The grip 170 and thegrip 172 have a spreading arrangement in which spacing between the grips170 and 172 widens with progression downward. Note that the grips 170and 172 that are made from rubber have, as described later, functions ofcushioning materials that soften impacts due to contact of the left andright grips 167 and 168 with the first arm 120 that may possibly occurin a case of storing the first arm 120 and the second arm 130.

As illustrated in FIG. 6 , the rotating portion 162 rotates around acore rod 173 a of the hinge 173, that is, around an imaginary axisextending in the left-right direction from the core rod 173 a. Therotating portion 162 includes a rotating portion main body 174, a handle175 attached to the rotating portion main body 174, and an attachmentscrew 176 for attaching the camera 1 illustrated in FIG. 4 to therotating portion 162.

A width in the left-right direction of the rotating portion main body174 less than or equal to a width in the left-right direction of therotation supporter 164. Meanwhile, as illustrated in FIG. 6 , a lengthin the front-back direction of the rotating portion main body 174 islonger than a length in the front-back direction of the rotationsupporter 164, and a portion of the rotating portion main body 174 inthe unrotated state projects backward from the rotation supporter 164. Alarge diameter first insertion hole 177 and a small diameter secondinsertion hole 178 are formed concentrically and continuously, frombottom to top in this protruding portion.

In one example, the handle 175 is formed by bending a flat plate madefrom a metal, and has a bend 175 a that is bent at an obtuse angle. Theside of the handle 175 on the front side of the bend 175 a is positionedbelow the rotating portion main body 174, and is screwed into a lowersurface of the rotating portion main body 174. Additionally, aninsertion hole 179 centered on the first insertion hole 177 is formed inthe handle 175. Meanwhile, the side of the handle 175 on the back sideof the bend 175 a extends diagonally downward from the lower surface ofthe rotating portion main body 174. This portion of the handle 175 thatextends diagonally downward is a portion where a user places a hand toraise and rotate the rotating portion 162.

The attachment screw 176 includes a male screw 176 a that is formed on atip of the attachment screw 176, and a ring-shaped stopper 176 b formedon a shaft of the attachment screw 176. The attachment screw 176 isinserted from below into the insertion hole 179, the first insertionhole 177, and the second insertion hole 178 in this order, and thestopper 176 b is accommodated in the first insertion hole 177. Thestopper 176 b cannot pass through the second insertion hole 178 formedin the rotating portion 162 and the insertion hole 179 formed in thehandle 175. The attachment screw 176 is prevented from falling out dueto the stopper 176 b being unable to pass through the insertion hole179. Additionally, the male screw 176 a formed on the tip of theattachment screw 176 mates with a screw hole 23 formed in a bottomsurface of the camera 1 illustrated in FIG. 4 . Due to thisconfiguration, an appropriate axial force can be introduced to the shaftof the attachment screw 176 between the male screw 176 a and a head 176c, and the camera 1 can be attached to the rotating portion 162 withoutrattling the camera 1.

The camera stand 100 includes a first locking device 180 and a secondlocking device 183 for maintaining the state in which the first arm 120and the second arm 130 are at the stored positions such as illustratedin FIG. 8 (that is, in a state in which all of the arms, including thefirst arm 120 and the second arm 130, are folded).

As illustrated in FIG. 1 , the first locking device 180 includes amagnet member 181 as a first magnetic body, and a magnet receiver 182 asa first magnetic body receiver. The magnet member 181 is provided on anouter circumferential surface of the first arm 120, and the magnetreceiver 182 is provided on the upright portion 114. In one example, themagnet member 181 is a combination of a piece of metal known as a yokeand a magnet, includes an adsorption surface 181 a, and is provided suchthat the adsorption surface 181 a faces outward. In one example, themagnet receiver 182 is a ferromagnetic metal such as, for example, iron,and is provided at the center of the short side 116 b provided on the−Z-axis direction side. The magnet receiver 182 is a columnarprotrusion, and is provided so as to face diagonally upward with respectto the +X-axis direction. In a case where the first arm 120 is rotatedcounterclockwise (in the drawing) from the state illustrated in FIG. 1 ,the magnet receiver 182 and the magnet member 181 eventually contact andare adsorbed to each other, as illustrated in FIG. 7 . At this time, themagnet receiver 182 contacts the adsorption surface 181 a of the magnetmember 181 substantially perpendicularly. As a result, the uprightportion 114 and the first arm 120 are locked to each other by the firstlocking device 180.

As illustrated in FIG. 1 , the second locking device 183 includes amagnet receiver 184 as a second magnetic body receiver, and a magnetmember 185 as a second magnetic body. The magnet receiver 184 projectsfrom the outer circumferential surface of the first arm 120, and themagnet member 185 is provided on an outer circumferential surface of thesecond arm 130. As with the magnet receiver 182, in one example, themagnet receiver 184 is a column made from iron, and projectsperpendicularly from the outer circumferential surface of the first arm120. As with the magnet member 181, in one example, the magnet member185 is formed by combining a piece of metal and a magnet. In a casewhere the second arm 130 is rotated counterclockwise (in the drawing)from the state illustrated in FIG. 1 , the magnet receiver 184 and themagnet member 185 eventually contact and are adsorbed to each other, asillustrated in FIG. 8 . At this time, the magnet receiver 184 contactsthe magnet member 185 substantially perpendicularly. As a result, thefirst arm 120 and the second arm 130 are locked to each other by thesecond locking device 183.

Next, a method for imaging a subject using the camera 1 attached to thecamera stand 100 is described. The camera 1 is attached to the camerastand 100 in order to suppress shaking during imaging In a case whereattaching the camera 1 to the camera stand 100, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the right direction of the camera 1 is faced in the direction in whichthe right grip 168 is disposed, and the left direction of the camera 1is faced in the direction in which the left grip 167 is disposed. Then,the attachment screw 176 projecting from the attacher 160 is screwedinto the screw hole 23 formed in the lower surface of the camera 1,thereby fixing the camera 1 to the attachment stand 140.

Then, the camera 1 is turned ON by pressing a power button 5 illustratedin FIG. 3A, and the user determines the composition of an image to becaptured while viewing the imaging subject displayed on a liquid crystalmonitor 6 (FIG. 3B) that functions as a finder. The user can, forexample, move the casters 113 on the floor 50 to move the camera stand100 to a desired location by holding, with hands, the grips 117 providedon the frame member 116 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 andpushing/pulling.

Next, the user can rotate the first arm 120 around the first fulcrum151, rotate the second arm 130 around the second fulcrum 153, and rotatethe attachment stand 140 around the third fulcrum 154 by holding theleft grip 167 and the right grip 168 illustrated in FIG. 1 with thehands and moving the hands. As a result, the camera 1 can be disposed ata desired position of the user within a movable range of the attachmentstand 140. Here, the movable range is defined by the rotatable ranges ofthe first arm 120, the second arm 130, and the attachment stand 140.Furthermore, the user can face the camera 1 attached to the attacher 160in a desired direction by loosening the knob screw 148 illustrated inFIG. 4 that is provided on the side surface of the ball joint 142 andholding the left grip 167 and the right grip 168 by the hands and movingthe hands. The camera 1 connected to the ball joint 142 can be rotatedwith the direction in which the support pillar 145 b illustrated in FIG.6 extends (the up direction in FIG. 6 ) as a center axis and, also, canbe tilted in any direction with respect to the direction in which thesupport pillar 145 b extends. Then, the user tightens the knob screw 148illustrated in FIG. 4 to fix the camera 1 together with the attacher 160to the second arm 130, and determines the composition. As a result,during imaging, the camera 1 can be brought close to the subject due tothe first arm 120 that projects in the horizontal direction and thesecond arm 130 that extends upward as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 forexample. Note that the operation order for determining the position andorientation of the camera 1 is not particularly limited, and the usercan appropriately determine the operation order.

After the composition is determined in the manner described above, theuser operates the shutter button 4 (FIG. 3A) to image the subject. Theimage captured in this manner is stored in a non-illustratednon-transitory recording medium accommodated inside the camera 1. Inresponse to ending of the imaging of the imaging subject, the userpresses the power button 5 (FIG. 3A) to turn the camera 1 OFF.

In a case where imaging by the camera 1 is completed and the camerastand 100 is in the state illustrated in FIG. 1 , the hand-held leftgrip 167 and right grip 168 are moved so as to fold all of the armsincluding the first arm 120 and the second arm 130 projecting from theupright portion 114, and move the first arm 120 and the second arm 130to the stored positions. Specifically, the first arm 120 is rotatedclockwise (in FIG. 1 ) around the first fulcrum 151, and the second arm130 is rotated counterclockwise (in FIG. 1 ) around the second fulcrum153. As a result, amounts of projection of the first arm 120 and thesecond arm 130 from the upright portion 114 decrease. Eventually, asillustrated in FIG. 7 , the magnet member 181 contacts the magnetreceiver 182 due to the rotation of the first arm 120, thereby stoppingfurther rotation of the first arm 120. As a result, the first arm 120can be moved to the stored position. Thus, the stored position of thefirst arm 120 is a position at which the first arm 120 can be suppressedfrom projecting from the upright portion 114, is a position of the firstarm 120 in a case where the camera stand 100 is in a compactly storablestate (stored state) at a desired location, and is a position of thefirst arm 120 in a case where all of the arms, including the first arm120 and the second arm 130, are in a folded state.

Meanwhile, depending on the attachment direction of the attachment stand140, the right grip 168 or the left grip 167 may contact the first arm120 via the rubber grip 170 or 172 before the magnet member 185 contactsthe magnet receiver 184 due to the second arm 130 being rotated. In sucha case, the knob screw 148 illustrated in FIG. 4 is loosened and theorientation of the attachment stand 140 is changed such that the rightgrip 168 or the left grip 167 does not contact the first arm 120.Alternatively, the attachment stand 140 can be rotated around the thirdfulcrum 154 to change the orientation of the attachment stand 140. Afterthe orientation of the attachment stand 140 is changed in this mannersuch that the right grip 168 and the left grip 167 do not contact thefirst arm 120, the second arm 130 is rotated clockwise (in the drawing)further and, as a result, the magnet member 181 contacts the magnetreceiver 182 as illustrated in FIG. 8 , thereby stopping furtherrotation of the second arm 130. As a result, the second arm 130 can bemoved to the stored position. Thus, the stored position of the secondarm 130 is a position at which the second arm 130 can be suppressed fromprojecting from the upright portion 114, is a position of the second arm130 in a case where the camera stand 100 is in a compactly storablestate (stored state) at a desired location, and is a position of thesecond arm 130 in a case where all of the arms are in the folded state.Thus, the upright portion 114 and the first arm 120 are locked to eachother by the first locking device 180, and the first arm 120 and thesecond arm 130 are locked to each other by the second locking device183. As a result, as illustrated in FIG. 8 , the state in which thefirst arm 120 and the second arm 130 are positioned at the storedpositions is maintained while the camera 1 is attached and, as a result,the stored state of the camera stand 100 is maintained.

In a case where, as described above, the first arm 120 and the secondarm 130 are at the stored positions and the camera stand 100 is in thestored state, the first arm 120 passes through the interior of the framemember 116 and is in a state in which the one end side on which thesecond fulcrum 153 is provided is extended diagonally downward. At thistime, the second fulcrum 153 is positioned below the first fulcrum 151.Additionally, the auxiliary arm 123 is interposed between the second arm130 and the arm main body 121, thereby providing distance between thefirst arm 120 and the second arm 130. As a result, the first arm 120 andthe second arm 130 can be disposed substantially parallel to each other,and the one end side of the second arm 130 on which the third fulcrum154 is provided can be extended diagonally upward.

According to the present embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 8 , gravityacts on a center of gravity G1 of the camera 1 in a case where thecamera stand 100 is in the stored state. This center of gravity G1 ispositioned on the −X-direction side of the second fulcrum 153 thatrotatably supports the second arm 130. As such, a counterclockwise (inFIG. 8 ) moment acts on the second arm 130 due to the gravity of thecamera 1 acting on the center of gravity G1. That is, a force causingrotation to the first arm 120 side acts on the second arm 130. However,the magnet member 185 provided on the second arm 130 contacts the magnetreceiver 184 provided on the first arm 120, thereby stopping thecounterclockwise (in FIG. 8 ) rotation. As a result, a counterclockwisemoment constantly acts on the second arm 130 that is in the storedposition and, due to this, it is possible to prevent the second arm 130from unintentionally rotating in the clockwise direction from the storedposition and projecting from the first arm 120.

Additionally, as illustrated in FIG. 8 , gravity acts on a center ofgravity G2 of the second arm 130 in a case where the camera stand 100 isin the stored state. This center of gravity G2 is positioned on the−X-direction side of the second fulcrum 153 that rotatably supports thesecond arm 130. As such, a counterclockwise (in FIG. 8 ) moment acts onthe second arm 130 due to the gravity of the second arm 130 acting onthe center of gravity G2. That is, a force causing rotation to the firstarm 120 side acts on the second arm 130. Due to this, it is possible toprevent the second arm 130 from unintentionally rotating in theclockwise direction from the stored position and projecting from thefirst arm 120, even in a case where the camera 1 is in a state detachedfrom the camera stand 100.

Additionally, by providing the first locking device 180 and the secondlocking device 183, the upright portion 114 and the first arm 120 arelocked to each other using the magnetic force of the first lockingdevice 180, and the first arm 120 and the second arm 130 are locked toeach other using the magnetic force of the second locking device 183.Due to this configuration, the first arm 120 and the second arm 130 thatare in the stored positions can be prevented from rotating due toexternal forces and projecting from the upright portion 114.

The first arm 120 and the second arm 130 can be stored compactly in asubstantially parallel state without interfering with each other.

The camera stand 100 is provided with the supporter 110 that includesthe five casters 113 on the ends of the five extending portions 112 and,as such, can be moved on the floor 50 in a stable state. Due to thisconfiguration, the camera stand 100 can easily be disposed at a desiredposition of the user.

Additionally, the coupled rotatable first arm 120 and second arm 130 areinterposed between the horizontally movable supporter 110 and theattachment stand 140 that supports the camera 1. Due to thisconfiguration, the position of the camera 1 can be freely changed by thefirst arm 120 that rotates around the first fulcrum 151 and the secondarm 130 that rotates around the second fulcrum 153, and the compositionof the image in which the subject is captured can be appropriatelydetermined.

The grip 170 and the grip 172 provided on the left and right of theattacher 160 have a spreading arrangement in which spacing between thegrips 170 and 172 widens with progression downward. As such, grippingwith both hands is facilitated. Due to this configuration, the positionof the attachment stand 140 to which the camera 1 is attached can easilybe changed, and the camera stand 100 can be easily handled.

The present disclosure is not limited to the embodiment described above,and various modifications and uses are possible. In the embodimentdescribed above, a description is given in which the camera 1 as thedevice is implemented as a digital camera, but configurations arepossible in which the device is a typical digital camera that iscommercially available, a medical digital camera that images an affectedarea of a person such as the skin or a mucous membrane, a video camerathat mainly captures videos, or a camera attached to a smartphone or thelike. Furthermore, provided that the device is supported by the stand,the device is not limited to a camera and, for example, may be anillumination device, a display, a personal computer, a telescope, arangefinder for surveying, or any other suitable device. Moreover, thepresent disclosure can be applied to stands for supporting thesedevices.

In the first locking device 180 and the second locking device 183described above, adsorption by magnetic force is used to lock so thatthe first arm 120 and the second arm 130 do not move from the storedpositions, but the present disclosure is not limited to a device thatuses magnetic force as the stopping device. A configuration is possiblein which, as another stopping device, a third stopping device 190provided with a mechanical locking mechanism such as illustrated in FIG.9A is used.

The third stopping device 190 includes, as an engaged member, a bend bar191 provided on the second arm 130, and a locking device 192 attached tothe first arm 120. The locking device 192 includes an engager 194 thatrotates around an axis of rotation 193 and that is capable of engagingwith the bend bar 191, a release lever 196 that rotates around an axisof rotation 195, and a tension spring 197 that connects the engager 194and the release lever 196 to each other.

In response to the second arm 130 being rotated by the user as indicatedby arrow Y1 in order to store the camera stand 100, the engager 194against which the bend bar 191 is eventually pressed rotates clockwise(in the drawing) around the axis of rotation 193. At this time, therelease lever 196 that is connected to the engager 194 via the tensionspring 197 rotates clockwise (in the drawing) around the axis ofrotation 195 due to the rotation of the engager 194 and, as illustratedin FIG. 9B, eventually contacts a cover 192 a that forms the outersurface of the locking device 192, thereby restricting further clockwiserotation. In response to the engager 194 being rotated clockwise (in thedrawing) further against the urging force of the tension spring 197 fromthe aforementioned state, as illustrated in FIGS. 9A and 9B, aprotrusion 194 b of the engager 194 overcomes a tip 196 a of the releaselever 196. As a result, the tip 196 a of the release lever 196 contactsthe protrusion 194 b, as illustrated in FIG. 9B. As a result, anoperation sound (click sound) caused by the protrusion 194 b of theengager 194 overcoming the tip 196 a is emitted from the third stoppingdevice 190. The user hears this operation sound and thereby candetermine that the second arm 130 has moved to the stored position andcan stop the rotating of the second arm 130.

Note that, in a case where, due to ambient sound, the operation soundemitted from the third stopping device 190 is not heard, the user willattempt to further rotate the engager 194. In such a case, the urgingforce of the tension spring 197, which is connected to the release lever196 for which clockwise rotation is restricted, gradually increases anda large force is required to rotate the engager 194. The user can rotatethe second arm 130 and fully press the bend bar 191 into the engager 194with ordinary strength, thereby moving the second arm 130 to the storedposition and locking the second arm 130 to the first arm 120.

By moving the second arm 130 to the stored position in this manner, asillustrated in FIG. 9B, a hook 194 a of the engager 194 hooks on thebend bar 191. Additionally, due to the urging force of the tensionspring 197, the engager 194 is subjected to a force in the direction ofrotating counterclockwise (in the drawing). However, the protrusion 194b of the engager 194 is in a state pressed against the tip 196 a of therelease lever 196 for which rotation is restricted and, as such,counterclockwise (in the drawing) rotation of the engager 194 isrestricted. Due to this configuration, a state in which the bend bar 191is hooked by the hook 194 a is maintained and the first arm 120 and thesecond arm 130 are engaged with each other via the third stopping device190.

Meanwhile, to release this engaged state, a finger is hooked on therelease lever 196 to rotate the release lever 196 in the directionindicated by arrow Y2, that is, to rotate the release lever 196counterclockwise (in the drawing). As a result, the tip 196 a of therelease lever 196 overcomes the protrusion 194 b, and the engagementbetween the tip 196 a and the protrusion 194 b described above isreleased. As a result, the engager 194 is pulled by the tension spring197 so as to rotate in the counterclockwise (in the drawing) directionand, as illustrated in FIG. 9A the hook 194 a separates from the bendbar 191. Thus, the state in which the first arm 120 and the second arm130 are locked to each other is released.

By using this third stopping device 190 that includes the mechanicallocking mechanism, the stored state is not released as long as the userdoes not operate the release lever 196 with clear intent to release thelocked state. As a result, the arms (the first arm and the second arm)that are at the stored positions can be prevented from unintentionallyrotating and projecting.

A configuration is possible in which the third stopping device 190 isused in place of at least one of the first locking device 180 and thesecond locking device 183. Additionally, a configuration is possible inwhich at least one of the first locking device 180 and the secondlocking device 183 is omitted and, in such a case, a rubber cushioningmaterial may be disposed in place of the at least one of the firstlocking device 180 and the second locking device 183 to suppress theoccurrence of impact or sound caused by at least one of contact betweenthe corresponding supporter and the first arm and contact between thefirst arm and the second arm.

In a case where the camera stand 100 is in the stored state, whether thefirst arm 120 and the second arm 130 are disposed substantially parallelto each other can be determined as desired. For example, a configurationis possible in which an arrangement is employed in which the secondlocking device 183 is made higher or the auxiliary arm 123 is shortened,and spacing between the second arm 130 and the first arm 120 increasestoward the one end side of the second arm 130 to which the camera 1 isattached. Due to this configuration, the first arm 120 and theattachment stand 140 can be made less likely to interfere in a case ofplacing the camera stand 100 in the stored state. Additionally, aconfiguration is possible in which an arrangement is employed in whichthe second locking device 183 is lowered or the auxiliary arm 123 islengthened, and spacing between the second arm 130 and the first arm 120decreases toward the one end side of the second arm 130 to which thecamera 1 is attached. Even in a case of using configurations such asthose described above, due to the gravity of the camera 1 or the gravityof the second arm 130, a moment in the direction of tilting to the firstarm 120 side acts on the second arm 130 that is at the stored position,thereby enabling maintenance of the stored state of the camera stand100.

A description is given in which, in a case where the camera stand 100 isin the stored state, the first arm 120 is in a state in which the oneend side on which the second fulcrum 153 is provided is extendeddiagonally downward. However, a configuration is possible in which thefirst arm 120 assumes another attitude. For example, a configuration ispossible in which, in a case where the first arm 120 is at the storedposition, the first arm 120 assumes an attitude in which the side of thearm main body 121 on which the fourth fulcrum 152 is provided extendsdownward. Moreover, as described above, a configuration is possible inwhich the auxiliary arm 123 is lengthened and extended in the horizontaldirection to tilt the second arm 130 that is at the stored positiontoward the first arm side with respect to the vertical direction. Atthis time, it is sufficient that the dimensions of the frame member 116illustrated in FIG. 2 are made larger so that the arm main body 121 ofthe first arm 120 can assume the downward extended attitude. Moreover,it is sufficient that the first locking device 180 is provided at aposition that operates (locks the first arm 120) in a case where the armmain body 121 is faced downward.

Whether to provide the auxiliary arm 123 can be determined as desired.For example, a configuration is possible in which the fourth fulcrum 152is not provided, and the tip of the arm main body 121 is bent in thedirection that the auxiliary arm 123 illustrated in FIG. 8 extends toprovide the arm main body 121 with the functions of the auxiliary arm123.

In the embodiment described above, a description is given in which thefirst arm 120 and the second arm 130 are disposed on substantially thesame plane (on the XZ plane) that extends in the vertical direction.However, whether to dispose the first and second arms 120 and 130 onsubstantially the same plane can be determined as desired. For example,a configuration is possible in which a bend extending toward the Y-axisdirection is formed on the one end of the first arm 120, and the secondarm 130 is attached to this bend, thereby disposing the first arm 120and the second arm 130 on mutually different planes. In such a case, thelocking device that locks the first arm 120 and the second arm 130 maybe configured by providing the magnet member 185 and the magnet receiver184 so as to face each other along the Y-axis direction, or bracketsthat face each other in a case where the second arm 130 is at the storedposition may be formed on the first arm 120 and the second arm 130 andthe magnet member 185 and the magnet receiver 184 may be disposed onthese brackets.

It is also described that the first arm 120 and the second arm 130 arerotatably supported around imaginary axes extending in the Y-axisdirection, but movement modes of the arms are not particularly limited.For example, a mode is possible in which the imaginary axis serving asthe rotation center of the first arm 120 and the imaginary axis serviceas the rotation center of the second arm 130 are orthogonal to eachother. Thus, the orientations of the imaginary axes serving as therotation centers can be set as desired.

It is also described that the first fulcrum 151 that supports the firstarm 120 and the second fulcrum 153 that supports the second arm 130allow rotation around imaginary axes, but how the first arm 120 and thesecond arm 130 are connected can be determined as desired. For example,a configuration is possible in which a universal joint capable of freelychanging the connection angle is applied to at least one of the firstfulcrum 151 and the second fulcrum 153.

In the camera stand 100, two arms, namely the first arm 120 and thesecond arm 130 are provided, but the number of installed arms can be setas desired, and a configuration is possible in which three or more armsare installed.

The foregoing describes some example embodiments for explanatorypurposes. Although the foregoing discussion has presented specificembodiments, persons skilled in the art will recognize that changes maybe made in form and detail without departing from the broader spirit andscope of the invention. Accordingly, the specification and drawings areto be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense. Thisdetailed description, therefore, is not to be taken in a limiting sense,and the scope of the invention is defined only by the included claims,along with the full range of equivalents to which such claims areentitled.

What is claimed is:
 1. A stand for a device, comprising: a supporterthat includes a first fulcrum; a first arm that is coupled to thesupporter so as to be rotatable around the first fulcrum, and thatincludes a second fulcrum on one end; and a second arm that includes afirst end and a device-side second end, the first end being coupled tothe first arm so as to be rotatable around the second fulcrum, whereinin a case where the first arm and the second arm are positioned atstored positions, the second fulcrum is positioned below the firstfulcrum and, also, the second arm is tilted with respect to a verticaldirection toward a side of the first arm, and gravity acting on thesecond arm acts on the second arm so as to rotate the second arm towardthe side of the first arm.
 2. The stand for a device according to claim1, further comprising: at least one of a first locking device that locksthe first arm and the supporter to each other in a case where the firstarm and the second arm are positioned at the stored positions, and asecond locking device that locks the second arm and the first arm toeach other in a case where the first arm and the second arm arepositioned at the stored positions.
 3. The stand for a device accordingto claim 2, wherein the first locking device includes a first magneticbody, and the first arm and the supporter are locked to each other by amagnetic force of the first magnetic body.
 4. The stand for a deviceaccording to claim 2, wherein the second locking device includes anengager that is provided on the first arm, and an engaged member that isprovided on the second arm and that is capable of engaging with theengager
 5. The stand for a device according to claim 2, wherein thesecond locking device includes a second magnetic body, and the secondarm and the first arm are locked to each other by a magnetic force ofthe second magnetic body.
 6. The stand for a device according to claim1, wherein a counterweight is provided at another end of the first arm,the counterweight having a weight corresponding to a moment of the firstarm around the first fulcrum.
 7. The stand for a device according toclaim 1, wherein the first arm and the second arm are mutuallypositioned on a substantially identical plane extending in a verticaldirection, and in a case where the first arm and the second arm arepositioned at the stored positions, the first arm and the second armextend substantially parallel to each other, diagonal to the verticaldirection.
 8. The stand for a device according to claim 2, wherein thefirst arm and the second arm are mutually positioned on a substantiallyidentical plane extending in a vertical direction, and in a case wherethe first arm and the second arm are positioned at the stored positions,the first arm and the second arm extend substantially parallel to eachother, diagonal to the vertical direction.
 9. The stand for a deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the supporter includes a frame member onwhich the first fulcrum is provided, and the first arm is rotatablysupported by the first fulcrum in a state passing through an interior ofthe frame member.
 10. The stand for a device according to claim 1,wherein the supporter includes a frame member on which the first fulcrumis provided, and the first arm is rotatably supported by the firstfulcrum in a state passing through an interior of the frame member. 11.The stand for a device according to claim 7, wherein the supporterincludes a frame member on which the first fulcrum is provided, and thefirst arm is rotatably supported by the first fulcrum in a state passingthrough an interior of the frame member.
 12. The stand for a deviceaccording to claim 8, wherein the supporter includes a frame member onwhich the first fulcrum is provided, and the first arm is rotatablysupported by the first fulcrum in a state passing through an interior ofthe frame member.